Open Season: New rules mean larger eels and lower limits

Sunday

Apr 20, 2014 at 12:01 AM

MarineFisheries announced several changes to its fisheries regulations this week. The recreational and commercial minimum size for American eels has been increased from 6 inches to 9 inches and the recreational possession limit has been reduced from 50 eels to 25 eels, with an exception for for-hire vessels which may continue to possess 50 eels. The use of fyke nets between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 is prohibited and the use of eels pots with a wire mesh smaller than ½-inch by ½-inch has also been prohibited. The most recent Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission stock assessment for American eels indicated that the eel stock was depleted and recommended reducing fishing mortality at all life stages. These actions are designed to improve the stock status and to be consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) eel management measures.

MARC FOLCO

MarineFisheries announced several changes to its fisheries regulations this week. The recreational and commercial minimum size for American eels has been increased from 6 inches to 9 inches and the recreational possession limit has been reduced from 50 eels to 25 eels, with an exception for for-hire vessels which may continue to possess 50 eels. The use of fyke nets between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31 is prohibited and the use of eels pots with a wire mesh smaller than ½-inch by ½-inch has also been prohibited. The most recent Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission stock assessment for American eels indicated that the eel stock was depleted and recommended reducing fishing mortality at all life stages. These actions are designed to improve the stock status and to be consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) eel management measures.

The minimum size for all hammerhead shark species has increased from 54 inches to 78 inches. The most recent stock assessment indicated that female scalloped hammerhead sharks did not reach sexual maturity until they were at least 78 inches. Accordingly, this action is being taken to improve the spawning stock biomass for these species. As hammerhead sharks species are difficult to differentiate once eviscerated, this rule applies to all hammerhead shark species, rather than just the scalloped hammerhead.

To promote the conservation of horseshoe crabs, which are already migrating into Southeastern Mass. inshore areas and beaches, MarineFisheries will close the commercial horseshoe crab fishery harvest during the five-day lunar periods coinciding with the second lunar period in April and each new and full moon in the months of May and June. Closures begin at 12 a.m. two days prior to the new or full moon and end at 11:59 p.m. two days after.

Therefore, the commercial fishery is closed: April 27 — May 1; May 12 — 16; May 26 — 30; June 10 — 14; and June 245 — 29.

MarineFisheries also has prohibited the possession and distribution of three species of Asian horseshoe crabs that may not be imported into the state for use as bait. These three species are: Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda, Tachypleus gigas and Trachypleus tridentatus. This prohibition was designed to prevent the introduction of invasive parasites and pathogens, as well as a potential bio-accumulated neurotoxin. These agents could negatively affect marine ecology and human health. This action was taken in support of a resolution by the interstate management board of the ASMFC.

STREAMS AND RIVERS

MassWildife's Southeast District has begun stocking streams and rivers with trout in addition to pond and lakes. There also are many off-Cape waters stocked with trout that often go overlooked as anglers who typically head east to the Cape, don't think of heading west and north in our district.

To keep the memory of the wild frontier alive, "a time of Western expansion when Sam Colt said he had an invention that made all men equal", The Rod and Gun Club of New Bedford will hold a Frontier Match Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. each day, rain or shine.

The shooting event, held on the club's primitive "woods walk" range, consists of an aggregate of both muzzleloading rifle and cap and ball revolver or single-shot muzzleloading pistol, with scores of rifle and pistol combined.

There will also be a match for primitive archery as well as the edged weapons course where you can test your skills at tomahawk and knife throwing. For competitors with the proper blackpowder firearms but without primitive clothing and gear, there will be a modern hunter category. Entry is $10 and re-entry is only $1 with primitive prizes to be awarded. For more information call 508-264-4575.

ON SATURDAY

Safety on the Water will be the topic of West Marine's free boating seminar on Saturday from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. at the store's Route 6 location in Fairhaven. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Mass. Environmental Police will be available with expert advice and resources to keep you safe on the water. The Fairhaven Fire Dept. will also be on-hand to collect expired flares, free of charge. For more information, call 508-742-0490.

Remington Arms Company announced a recall of Model 700 and Model Seven rifles with X-Mark Pro (XMP) triggers, manufactured from May 1, 2006 — April 9, 2014. Remington has determined that some of those models could unintentionally discharge. under certain circumstances therefore customers are advised to cease use of recalled rifles and return them to Remington free of charge. The rifles will be inspected, specialty cleaned, tested, and returned as soon as possible. Do not attempt to diagnose or repair recalled rifles.

Remington established a dedicated website and toll-free hotline to help consumers determine whether their Model 700 or Model Seven rifle(s) are subject to recall. Visit xmprecall.remington.com or call 1-800-243-9700 (Prompt #3 then Prompt #1) Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for instructions on how to return a recalled rifle.

On The Water magazine announced the start of its 9th Annual Striper Cup tournament which draws more than 4,500 entrants and includes more than 100 participating weigh stations from Delaware to Maine. Sign up (entry is $35), receive a registration package and you can weigh in your trophy striper at any one of the registered weigh stations to compete for hundreds of valuable prizes awarded every week to anglers in boat, shore, kayak, catch and release and youth divisions. Form a team and you can also compete to win the Striper Cup trophy. Attend the StriperFest award ceremony at the close of the event in the fall and be entered to win a Larson 220CC striper boat. For complete rules or to register, visit store.onthewater.com/2014-striper-cup-registration or call 508-548-4705.

Today is Easter Sunday and when I was at a store this past week, shelves brimming with Easter candy, jelly beans, speckled malted milk eggs, chocolate bunnies and bubble gum eggs, I treated myself to a package of those yellow marshmallow chicks called Peeps, and also a package of the bunnies. They're exactly the same, but different — they're in the shape of bunnies.

I opened the packages and left them out for a few days so they'd get stale, hard and chewy instead of being fresh, soft and mushy. The Peeps were good — and a package of six usually satisfies my craving for an entire year. I never had the bunnies before and when I ate one, it tasted just like the chicks. No difference. Then I thought to myself, "of course, Silly." Rabbit tastes just like chicken.

Come to think of it, a lot of things taste like chicken. If someone who never had chicken asked you what it tastes like, you could say, "tastes just like rabbit and alligator and rattlesnake and quail and pheasant and wild turkey and frog legs and snapping turtle and "» Hey, coming over for Sunday dinner? I'll put on a chicken, or a rabbit, or frog legs or Peeps or "»

Marc Folco is the outdoor writer for The Standard-Times. Contact him at openseason1988@aol.com or through OpenSeasonSpecialties.com